Kentucky prepared for "challenging environment" created by Vanderbilt stadium construction

Kentucky and Vanderbilt play each other every season, but on Saturday, the Cats will face an environment unlike any other in Nashville. Vanderbilt’s stadium, now called FirstBank Stadium, is undergoing massive renovations as part of a $300 million investment into the school’s athletic facilities. The south and north end zones are completely gone to make way for a new basketball practice facility, student-athlete dining hall, and stadium premium seating options. Stadium capacity is reduced from 39,790 to 28,500.

The upgrades are expected to be completed in 2024 but until then, the area, like much like the rest of Nashville, is a construction zone, complete with a temporary scoreboard suspended from cranes. Pictures of the scoreboard went viral during Vanderbilt’s season opener vs. Hawaii, as did photos of the visitor’s locker room, which is a giant tent across the street. That tent does have bathrooms and showers, but still, it’s an odd setup, one for which Mark Stoops said Kentucky is preparing.

“Yeah, it needs to be talked about, so they’re not surprised when they see it, because there definitely will be the most challenging environment we’ll play in this year, from that point, just aesthetically and getting dressed and logistically and all that,” Mark Stoops said on Monday.

“So, we’ll deal with it just like everybody else has to. It is what it is. Our players will handle it just fine. I’ve seen a little bit on film and on tape, but it’s hard to get a feel for it, with the dressing and all that. I know our ops guys have been working on it, Josh (Pruitt) has been working on it for a month or two.”

Vanderbilt’s FirstBank Stadium is currently undergoing renovations.

For tonight’s game against Hawaii:

• scoreboard held up by cranes
• visitor locker room is a tent
• kickoff delayed by lightning

10/10, no notes. pic.twitter.com/izJN88lDJl

— Ben Stevens (@BenScottStevens) August 26, 2023

Here’s a current view of the construction via the live cams on YouTube:

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Stoops on adjusting to another early kick

Kentucky will have to get to their tent early on Saturday for the Noon ET, 11 a.m. local time kickoff. It will be Kentucky’s second early kick of the season. The Florida game on September 30 at Kroger Field will also kick off at Noon ET. On Monday, Stoops said that his staff is well-practiced at getting the team ready for early kicks.

“It is what it is, like I said. I mean, who cares what I think?” Stoops said, laughing. “I’ve got to get them ready, no matter the situation. We’ve tried many different things. We’ve gone over this through the years, when we’ve played on the road and played at 11 o’clock and our approach. I did that years ago. We played, I think it was at Missouri at 11 and just the way we get them up, get them rolling, get the music going.”

You may recall that Kentucky won that game 35-21 in Columbia in 2016, with Benny Snell and Boom Williams combining for 374 rushing yards and three touchdowns.

“I want high energy early in the morning, you’ve got to wake them up and get them rolling. So, that’s always been our approach for 10 years or so with the early kicks. Maybe nine (years). I might’ve taken one butt-whooping, and then you learn a little bit from it. You learn each and every time. But, we’ve done it for a long time, kinda getting them up, try and get them motivated and get them going.” 

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Limited Kentucky vs. Vanderbilt Tickets Still Remain

Want to make the trip to Nashville to see the Cats avenge last season’s loss to the ‘Dores in person? Limited tickets still remain on Vanderbilt’s website. There are several rows still open in sections V and U, which are typically the visitor’s sections, although whenever Kentucky comes to town, the majority of the stadium is blue.

Due to the construction, there are some road closures and parking changes to be aware of. A complete list and map of affected areas are available on Vanderbilt’s website (This interactive map is particularly useful.) If you have a parking pass or want to park in one of the garages around the stadium, lots will open at 7 a.m. CT. Make sure to give yourself extra time to navigate the area and get to your seat.

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